Welcome to Brenda Kelly's IQ Container Home

Stacey Mattish

Contributing Writer

Unseen Perspective/IQ Container Homes

Brenda Kelly sells IQ Container Homes, tiny homes built from sea containers. IQ Container Homes is located on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. In a YouTube interview done by Bryce, Kelly reveals that she has been living in her container home for one and one-half years and absolutely loves her tiny space. The first part of her home was a 20-foot (6 m) container. Since that time, she has added an additional 40-foot (12 m) container to it.

When asked if she misses her smaller 20-foot (6m) home, Kelly says no, but she learned some valuable lessons in working with a smaller space: Having furniture with multiple functions is one of the keys to tiny living, and not accumulating "stuff" just because you have the space is another thing she mentions. Between the two containers, Kelly's home now has 484 square feet (148 square meters).

Upon entering Kelly's home, one of the first thins you see is an amazing porch off the back. The kitchen and living room flow into each other, maximizing the space. Underneath the lounge is extra storage, and the lounge also turns into an extra bed.

Solar panels provide almost all the power for the home; and what Kelly doesn't use, she sells back to the city. If she needs extra at any given time, she is connected to city utilities and can draw electricity from that if she needs to. With wise use of space and multi-function furniture, Kelly has discovered that you can definitely live "big" in a small space.